Coconuts hit by natural and man-made disasters – Chamber

The coconut industry faced both natural and politically made disasters for the past four years and this has led to the present crisis in the industry, Ceylon Chamber of Coconut Development President Jayantha Samarakoon said.

He said that coconut lands being cleared for real estate especially in Kurunegala and Gampaha areas due to high commercial value, along with the COVID pandemic followed by the fertiliser ban and the economic crisis were the key reasons for this current crisis.

“In addition low productivity of around 58 nuts per tree in Sri Lanka as against around 80 in other countries too have aggravated this crisis. “We currently see around a 200 million shortfall of nuts for the first four months of 2024 and the only option available now to get out of this crisis is to import coconut and related products from Indonesia and the Philippines.”

“If this is done we can temporarily meet the industrial, export and household requirement and bring down the price of a coconut to around Rs.150.”

In 2023, kernel-based exports generated US$ 523 million, underscoring the importance of stabilising this sector to protect its revenue potential and the livelihoods it supports. “Without immediate action, Sri Lanka risks undermining its competitive edge in global markets, jeopardising the livelihood of thousands while reducing local affordability.”

He said as a long-term measure they are proposing to the government to bring down a bag of fertiliser to around Rs.4,000 from the current Rs.12,000 range which will encourage owners to use fertiliser to the requirement and increase productivity.

“In addition replanting in the existing estate and in new areas too would take place. “We are also keen to have more Mahaweli land for this purpose.”

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